Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Scan the APD QR Code for Contact Info!
At first glance this may not look like a useful tool, but many of you can scan it with your smart phone or other device and pull up the contact information for the Arcadia Police Department. The Department address, phone number, website, and even our Twitter tag are listed in the code. Known as a "QR" or two-dimensional code, this type of information is being used more and more to provide a quick look at contact or business information, similar to a business card. The APD QR code has been placed on the blog side-bar for ready use by visitors.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Weekly Tip - Collision Checklist
The first item of business is to check for injuries to you or any other involved driver or passenger. If someone is injured, call 9-1-1 and report the collision immediately. If there are injuries that require medical attention, leave the vehicles in place until police and fire personnel arrive.
If no one is hurt and the vehicles are drivable, remove them from the roadway and pull to the side of the road, into a parking lot or on to a side street, out of traffic. Evaluate the damage and if there is substantial damage or injury, the police should be called to the scene. If the damage is minor and no one is injured, exchanging information between drivers is acceptable. Most drivers believe that a police report is always required. This is NOT the case and some agencies will not even respond to minor collisions. Absent prosecution for major collisions, death, hit and run, unlicensed drivers etc, the police report is simply paperwork for the insurance companies.
When exchanging information, record the following:
•Date, time and location of the collision
•Name, address and phone numbers for all drivers and passengers
•Drivers license numbers for involved drivers
•Insurance company name, policy number and policy holder for all drivers or vehicles
•Complete vehicle information of involved vehicles to include license number, make, model, color, description such as pick-up, four door etc and name of registered owner if different
•Description of any damage
•Photographs of damage, or lack there of, other parties and scene if safe to do so
•Note lane position of each vehicle and where the vehicles were prior to and at time of collision
•Note any unusual conditions such as inoperative lights, vision obstruction
•Note/photograph any physical evidence like skids or debris resulting from collision
Remember, you must carry with you and present to a police officer, your driver's license, proof of insurance and current vehicle registration when stopped by an officer or involved in a collision.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Bicyclist Succumbs to Injuries Sustained in Collision
A 70-year-old Arcadia resident has passed away as a result of injuries he sustained during a collision on Monday afternoon. The Arcadia Police Department was notified by local hospital staff of the death at about 10:00 am today. The gentleman passed away sometime yesterday with family at his side. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the bicyclist.
The original incident press release is copied below. Preliminary investigation and witness interviews indicate that the cyclist most likely entered the intersection on a red light when he was struck by a southbound vehicle on Baldwin Avenue. The driver of the vehicle was not injured and remained at the scene. Our investigators will not be seeking charges against the driver.
The original incident press release is copied below. Preliminary investigation and witness interviews indicate that the cyclist most likely entered the intersection on a red light when he was struck by a southbound vehicle on Baldwin Avenue. The driver of the vehicle was not injured and remained at the scene. Our investigators will not be seeking charges against the driver.
Incident: Injury Traffic Collision, Auto v. Bicyclist
Contact: Watch Commander (626) 574-5156
Date / Time of Press Release: Jan 17, 2011, 6:30pm
On January 17, 2011 at about 4:08pm Arcadia Police and Paramedics responded to an injury traffic collision at the intersection of Baldwin and Longden Avenues. Preliminary investigation revealed that a man riding a bicycle, traveling eastbound on Longden Avenue, entered the intersection at Baldwin and was broadsided by a driver travelling southbound.
The bicyclist, a 70-year-old Arcadia resident, suffered injury to his head and leg. He was treated at the scene and transported to Methodist Hospital of Southern California. His injuries are described as severe. The driver of the vehicle is not being held.
Cause of the collision is under investigation by the Arcadia Police Department Major Accident Investigation Team.
Robert P. Sanderson, Chief of Police
By: Bob Anderson, Lieutenant
Weekly Tip - "CHEATERS"
Most of us pay our registration fees to the State so that we can legally driver our vehicles on the street. Some even pay fees for off-road vehicles used in our deserts and mountains. The majority of residents pay their share on time and in accordance with the law. However, it is not uncommon to see vehicles with an out of State license plate being driven on our roads. Some of these out of State vehicles may be visitors, relatives coming and going, or even rental cars, but many of them are not.
California law requires that a vehicle used in our State be registered in California within 20 days of either establishing residency or accepting employment. There are few exceptions to this law for persons who live near our border or are in school. It is usually much cheaper to register a car out of State and some people take advantage of that, cheating the State of California. Not only does the State lose money, but this failure to pay helps keep our rates high. The California Highway Patrol launched a website called "Cheaters" that was started to allow drivers to send "tips" to the CHP reporting vehicles being unlawfully used in California.
According to the CHP website, the three most common reasons for not completing the registration process are; people unaware of California registration laws, people evading payments of registration fees and taxes, and people unable to comply with air pollution control laws.
Take a look at the "Cheaters" website. If you are aware of one of these vehicles in your neighborhood, pull up the on-line form and submit the info to the CHP for follow-up.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Explosives Arrest...Updated Press Release
Incident: Improvised Explosive Device - Arrrest
Date and Time of Release: January 14, 2011 / 8:00 pm
At about 10:00 am on Friday morning, 01/14/11, Arcadia Police Officers were called to Foothills Middle School, 171 E. Sycamore in Arcadia, regarding a suspicious person on the campus who tried to open up several classrooms. The reporting party saw the suspicious person walk away from the campus and towards a nearby Bank of America on Foothill Boulevard. The subject left a backpack in the bushes near the bank then ran through the parking lot where Officers detained him.
Officers located the backpack and found inside what appeared to be a homemade explosive device. Arcadia Officers evacuated nearby businesses and placed Foothills Middle School on lockdown as a precaution. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad was called and responded to assess the suspicious device. The LASD Bomb Squad detonated the device and rendered it safe. The lockdown of the Middle School was lifted around 1:15 pm and businesses were re-opened.
Arrested Subject Information:
Parradavis, Joshua Martin
Male, 23 yrs, resides in Arcadia, Unemployed Currently held at the Arcadia Police Department Jail Bail = $500,512.00A joint investigation is still ongoing involving the Arcadia Police Department, FBI, and the LASD explosives detail.
For additional information, please contact the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5150.
Robert P. Sanderson, Chief of Police
By: Paul Foley, Lieutenant
Refer Case #11-240
Possible Explosive Device Rendered Safe by Bomb Squad
Incident: Homemade Explosive Device
Date and Time of Release: January 14, 2011 / 1:30 pm
At about 10:00 am on Friday morning, 01/14/11, Arcadia Police Officers were called to Foothills Middle School , 171 E. Sycamore in Arcadia Foothill Boulevard
Officers located the backpack and found inside what appeared to be a homemade explosive device. Arcadia Officers evacuated nearby businesses and placed Foothills Middle School
A male adult is in custody and being detained at the Arcadia Police Department, pending further investigation.
For additional information, please contact the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5150.
Robert P. Sanderson, Chief of Police
By: Colleen Flores, Lieutenant
Refer Case #11-240
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Weekly Tip - Front License Plates
California law requires that all registered vehicles that were issued two license plates, properly display both plates on the vehicle. Basically, all street legal cars are required to have two plates. Many times, vehicles may be purchased from dealerships that do not install a front license plate mount to the vehicle. This is not an excuse for failing to properly display and mount the license plate. A driver may be stopped and cited for not having license plates properly displayed and some communities issue parking citations to vehicles that are parked without plates displayed. Simply having the plate in your car or tossing it on the dash board does not suffice. Please install your license plates according to CVC 5200 and CVC 5201. The law was modified this year to also require that the plates be mounted so that the characters are upright and display from left to right. Take a look at the links provided for specific language from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Arcadia Patch: Community is Key to Reducing Crime
Joe Taglieri from the Arcadia Patch wrote a nice article highlighting some of the community based programs that the City and Department offer in the area of crime prevention and community policing. The article has quotes from Chief Bob Sanderson, City Manager Don Penman, and Mayor Peter Amundson, who each urge members of the community to remain vigilant and become involved crime prevention. Joe also mentions the Arcadia Police Department's social media presence and provides links to our various pages. Take a look at the article, it is well worth the read!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Weekly Tip - Over the Counter (OTC) Medicine Abuse
There has been a problem with over the counter (OTC) medicine abuse for years. OTC medicine is easy to find and purchase, but moreover, it is many times readily available in your own home. In recent years, we have seen local cases of OTC medicine abuse where teens have taken large doses of cough syrup or cold pills that contain dextromethorphan (DXM) in attempts to get a quick "high". It is just as important to speak with your children about OTC abuse as it is to speak with them about all other forms of drug abuse.
In 1987, a group of women established a campaign to help spread awareness to the problem of OTC cough medicine abuse among teens. The campaign is called Five Moms and they are associated with the website StopMedicineAbuse.org. Visit FiveMoms.com and the StopMedicineAbuse websites for additional information on the topic of OTC medicine abuse, prevention tips, and more. Education.com is another great resource for information on the topic.
Take the time to talk with your kids about not only drug abuse, but OTC medicine abuse as well.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Captain Randy Kirby Retires
Long-time Arcadia Police Captain Randy Kirby said farewell to the troops last week after a career that spanned three decades of service to the City of Arcadia.
From the desk of Chief Bob Sanderson:
Captain Randy Kirby retired from the Arcadia Police Department on December 30, 2010, after a distinguished 30 year career. Randy began his law enforcement career in Sierra Madre before coming to Arcadia in 1980. Throughout his career, Randy served in various capacities and steadily rose through the ranks. Admired by both his peers and Department managers through the years, Randy assumed such important positions as SWAT Team Commander, Community Relations Supervisor, Detective Bureau Commander, Patrol Watch Commander and served as Captain over both the Patrol and Administrative Divisions. Captain Kirby also filled in as Acting Chief of Police on many occasions and was well versed in all Department operations. Throughout his career, Randy was known as a cop’s cop, in that he never lost his love for police work and his passion to keep criminals off the street and to assist in patrol work even as a captain when the hot calls occurred. Randy was known to run from his office into the field when a serious crime occurred.
Captain Kirby was well respected by the entire City of Arcadia team of professionals and regularly represented the Police Department in city events and community events. Randy was incident commander and responsible for overall security planning for the Breeder’s Cups held at Santa Anita Park and participated in security for the 1984 Olympics at Santa Anita Park. For his efforts throughout the years, Randy was recognized by numerous awards and commendations and leaves a legacy of service that all department members can look to as a benchmark of faithful service that we all should strive to achieve. Randy will be sorely missed at the Arcadia Police Department and his contributions have made the Department and our community a better place. On behalf of the entire Department, we celebrate the career of our friend and mentor, Captain Randy Kirby, and wish him the very best in retirement and much success in his future.
A retirement party for Captain Kirby is planned for February 4, 2011. For more information or tickets, please contact Senior Administrative Assistant Norma Zamudio at (626) 574-5185.
Huntington Drive and Second Avenue Lane Closures
Beginning Wednesday, January 5, 2011, contractors will begin work on the modification to the Metro Gold Line railroad bridge at the intersection of Huntington Drive and Second Avenue. The project is divided into two phases, estimated to last about seven weeks each, putting the completion date well into April 2011. Weather and other circumstances may impact the time frame.
The first phase will begin with work on the bridge abutment located on the S/E corner of the intersection. Both eastbound Huntington Drive and northbound Second Avenue will be narrowed to one through lane and a left turn lane for each direction. Pedestrian access will be eliminated on the south and east sides of the intersection during this phase of construction. The "No Turn on Red" will remain in effect for all directions during both phases of construction.
The second phase will impact the northwest corner bridge abutment and is not scheduled to begin until phase one is completed. During phase two, westbound Huntington Drive and southbound Second Avenue will be limited to one through lane and a left turn lane for each direction. Pedestrian access will be eliminated on the north and west sides of the intersection during phase two.
The lane closures will remain through the completion of each phase. Recommended alternate roadways would include Duarte Road, Santa Clara Street, and Colorado Boulevard for east-west travel and First Avenue, Santa Anita Avenue, or Mayflower Avenue for north-south travel. Traffic will be impacted during this construction and your patience is appreciated. Please allow extra time for your travels if using either of these roadways during construction.
For issues pertaining to traffic flow during the construction, please contact the Watch Commander at (626)574-5156.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year!
Wishing everyone all the best for 2011! Happy New Year from the men and women of the Arcadia Police Department!
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